Hello,I am beginning to think that it might be a worthwhile purchase to get a luxury car, say about 2 years old at about twenty five or thirty thousand dollars. I looked over your forum, hoping that I could find some recommendations. I didn"t see anything that qualified, however. I would be looking for reliability. In this regard I noticed your discussions on German cars and electrical problems. My preference would be a station wagon, but I would look at others, if there was a better deal. I wonder if anyone could make recommendations.thanks Joe

one of the reasons i am looking at 2 years old is becauses of the depreciation and the warranty. I am wondering, though, which type would be a good bet. I would like a station wagon, although it is not necessary. For that reason I was looking at A volvo Xc 70 or a Passat. I dont know if they would qualify as luxury cars. But, from the discussions on this thread I would be alittle afraid of a bmw or a mercedes because of electrical problems. dont know if i am right on that.

For anything European, you need some kind of warranty, or a willingness to spend. Older Volvos VWs and Audis can be especially troublesome.

At 2 or 3 years old, a nice used E or 5er wagon would be appealing to me - late in their model runs so a lot of kinks have been ironed out and they are genuinely nice cars, but you won't get it for 20K just yet.

If you like wagons, Acura TSX is interesting too - resale will be good so it won't be as cheap, but it will have less dramatic maintenance.

I also believe that cars from 1985-on will be next to impossible to restore-the electronic modules are not repairable, and most of the components (even if you were able to take one apart) are simply not available. For example, the Alfa-Romeo 164 has 5 Z-80 microprocessor chips inside-where would you get these today?Second: young people are increasingly disinterested in cars-they are beginning to think that automobiles (and their emissions) are becoming a problem for the environment.So, outside of big collectors, you won't see many old car hobbyists in 30-40 years.

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Detroit defined luxury in the first three decades after WWII. With few exceptions, mega size, big engine displacement, convenience features such as PS, PB, AC, power seats and windows first appeared on high end GMs, Chryslers and Lincolns. Vinyl tops and abundant chrome trim dressed up the exterior. Soft velour seats and rich carpeting did the same for the interior. Of course, a soft, floaty ride was generally prized over better control, and brakes were marginal. The '52-'54 Lincolns firmed up the suspension some, in an effort to provide better road holding. Chrysler/Imperial took the balance of ride and stability a step further with the introduction of the torsion suspension in '57. For example, these cars leaned a lot less than the competition on curves, and the steering was quicker, though very light. It wasn't long, though, before Chrysler softened the ride. Most Americans still valued soft, quiet isolation.

The main exception to American luxury in the late '40s-late '50s that stands out in my mind were the Jaguar sedans and XK sportscars. The dimensions were trimmer, as were firmer suspensions. No vinyl tops. The interiors featured bucket seats covered in leather and beautiful wood dashes. Power was supplied by DOHC I-6s of moderate displacement instead of big block OHV V8s. Many Jags were equipped with 4-on-the-floor, with or without overdrive rather than column shifted automatics. Rollers and Bentleys were always factors in high end luxury, but limited due to cost of ownership. They always turned heads.

By the '60s Mercedes and and BMWs appeared in greater numbers, and by the '70s these Germans, and to a much lesser extent Audi, became the cool ones to own. Understated luxury rose in popularity as large, nouveau riche receded. Volvo, Saab and other Euro brands were near luxury outliers. Lexus, Infiniti and Acura were a variation on the German business model, but with greater emphasis on value.

Cadillac and Buick, Lincoln and Chrysler are still trying to define themselves in the luxury segment.

Fashions tend to come, go and, sometimes, return. Will vinyl roofs, velour seats and opera windows ever be considered upscale again? As odd as it may seem now, I wouldn't rule one or more of them out forever. At some point people may tire of leather and restraint, and will want a new look and feel. Today's luxury will look very yesterday.

I don't know - maybe as some kind of hipster driven fad, and then it might be more on mainstream cars than luxury. I think today, high end design comes out of Europe first - and they won't want to replicate a 74 Lincoln anytime soon.

The applications would be different, and wouldn't resemble a '74 Lincoln because the shapes of the cars would be very different from those of the '70s. For example, leather might be discreetly applied as external trim pieces. The velour colors and patterns would be subdued, or combined with leather. For example, leather on the outer portions of the seat and velour inserts. No gauche bordello reds. The German exterior and interior styling model has been updated over the years, but hasn't really changed. At some point I'm thinking it will, because nothing remains constant forever. The new styling language may come from anywhere, including German design studios. Also, the applications will look new and exciting to buyers who are way too young to remember the cars of the '60s and '70s.

It's easier to use a variation of something from the past than to create something totally new. That said, the changes could incorporate new metal textures and colors.

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